Wildfire Season Here Again-Be Safe

We have had wildfires burning since Friday southwest of here, some in our county, some in adjacent counties as well as all over the state.  At one time, there were two separate fires in Jack County and three more in Young County.  The two here combined into one and the three in Young County combined into one.  Ours is contained and the other is still burning, causing evacuations of whole towns as it marches on in its insatiable desire for fuel. 

Lots of homes, livestock and land have been destroyed and it isn't controlled yet.  Today is Wednesday....five days later.  The wind has turned completely around four times.  One fireman was killed over in Eastland County, probably struck down by a vehicle in the smoke.  Firemen from all over the country have come into our area to help fight these monsters.  They are all worn out, I'm sure.  It has literally been hell on earth in our part of the state.

We went through this a couple of years ago when the Easter Fires were burning three-fourths of the county.

The people, as usual, have turned out in great numbers to do what they can to help their fellow man.  Prayers have been going up for days, constantly.  Prayer chains have been started.  Facebook is lit up with them and most people are trying to find out how else they can help.  My sister called from Ft. Worth yesterday to find out where and how she and her friends can help.

I guess most people don't think about being caught in a wildfire situation until it comes close to them.  I know I didn't think much about it.  We've been in the path of three or four fires over the past years. 

The first one was across the road, literally, but was put out before it got too much out of control.  Another was just south of us when an electric line sparked in the wind.  It was put out quickly, too.  A bad one was stopped just before it crossed a road a couple of miles south of us.  Another burned along our back fence line.  I wrote about that one in Firefighters and the People of Jack County.  We had a couple more since then come within a few miles of us (one a couple of pastures over!)

The first bad one caught me totally unprepared.  I couldn't even think straight, if at all.  I just stopped.  Fortunately, it was kept away.

Not being able to think really shocked me.  I am usually a rock in emergencies.  I may fall apart later, but in a pinch, I do pretty well.  I learn from my setbacks, though and 3 fires later, I now have a plan, a priority list and a bit of calmness when the news hits.  I still pace around the yard going from the back where the smoke usually is coming from to the front where I can watch my flag to tell what direction the wind is blowing.  I am now constantly thinking and moving and preparing for the worst.

I have come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to save all of the living things in my care, but if I have time, I have a plan.  I may not be able to take all of my pictures with me, but if I have time, I have a plan.  I may lose all of my business records, but if I have time I have a plan.  If I don't have time, God has a plan.

Keep everyone involved in these fires, in your prayers.  If you want to help, all of the fire departments in the affected counties will need funds for fuel, so make a donation.  Find your local radio or newspaper office, television station and call them to find out where you can donate supplies and what is needed.  You might be surprised by the need.  Evacuees will need bedding, clothes, food...  Firefighters will need chapstick, Wet Ones, individually wrapped snacks....  Volunteers may be needed to help coordinate evacuees and firefighters as they rotate through rest periods. 

Don't call the dispatchers...they're busy.  I have found that you can get more information off of Facebook than anywhere.  In the latest round of fires, 3 newspapers in the adjacent counties, have been posting everything...information about the fires, where to donate, what to donate, where volunteers are needed, etc.  There are websites with scanner channels like Jack County Fire Radio and a satellite map showing where the fires are.  The Texas Forest Service will keep you up to date on what has been happening, but not as it happens.

With the chances for wildfires high for the next couple of months, be watchful, have a plan and stay safe. 

  

Burying One of Their Own - Jimmy Brisco Put to Rest

I returned a little while ago from attending the Celebration of the Life of Jimmy Brisco.  The service was moving, the tears flowed and the church building overflowed as expected.  There were fire trucks everywhere and after the service, men and women from fire departments across the area were standing and waiting for the casket to be loaded onto the fire truck. 

Friends and relatives filled the parking lot as they waited on the casket to leave.  Old times were remembered by those that hadn't seen each other since the last funeral; babies were introduced; and homecoming plans discussed.

Then the church doors opened and a hush came over the masses.  The firemen carried the casket at a slow march, an eerie kind of slow, down the walk to the first step of hefting it up onto the top of the scrubbed clean, shiny fire engine draped in funeral black.

As the firemen saluted, standing at attention, the casket was set in place and Brisco's fire helmet, set in remembrance of his service, just behind the casket.  Two firemen donned their "bunker gear" and took a place of honor on the back of the truck, protecting their precious cargo.

As the truck pulled away, the faces of these brave men and women showed that it was all they could do to hold it together. 

For all of the brave acts of heroism that these people do, it is a hard thing to bury one of their own. 

Rest in peace, Jimmy Brisco.

..................Sharon

The Death of Jimmy Brisco

The old saying goes, "The good die young" and that is certainly the case in the loss of Jimmy Brisco.  His death has really hit this community hard.  We have lost too many young people lately.  You have to wonder what God is thinking sometimes....to take them so early in life.

I feel so much sympathy for this family.  They must be devastated and full of so many questions as to why?  Why him?  Why now?  Why take him when we love him so much?  Or need him so much?  Why, God, have you done this?  I can only imagine what they are going through. 

We know that God's ways are higher than our ways and that He thinks on a level way beyond our comprehension and that in the scheme of things, this life is just a blip in eternity, but still we ask God why.

In our humanity, we feel the pain of loss through death probably more so than any other type of pain.  We know that physical pain will heal and eventually go away.  We know that disappointment will be replaced with happier times and that when someone leaves to go across the country for several weeks, they will eventually be coming back.  There is always hope.  But a loved one dying, is a pain that we don't think will ever heal and often it never does.  Some people never forgive God for taking their loved ones and others understand that God has a plan for each one of us that has nothing to do with our own plans.

God tells us in His Word (NIV):
Psalm 119:76  "May Your unfailing love be my comfort according to Your promise..."
Psalm 34:18  "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."
Matthew 5:4  "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted."
Romans 8:38, 39  "Neither death, nor life...shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
and
Revelation 21:4  "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
John 14:18  "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."


There are many other Scriptures.  God has not left us without hope.  We know that we serve a living God and that He has prepared a place for us in heaven. 

So however overwhelmed you may feel right now, know that God is there for you, waiting for you to come to Him in your suffering.  He wants to comfort you and protect you.  There are so many prayers going up and so many people reaching out to each other for the hope that the Holy Spirit has given each heart.

Remember to look back in a little while and when you see that there is only one set of footprints, know that God carried you through, then start looking forward to the time that the footprints are all mixed up and you hear yourself laughing as you joyfully dance with the Lord in thanksgiving.

May God shower you with blessings far beyond your understanding.

...........Sharon

Remembering 9/11/2001

As we make our way through this day of remembrance of the people that lost their lives in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we must never forget the way we felt as the planes hit the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the ground in Pennsylvania.  We must never forget the heroes, the children, the survivors of those that died. 

As we go through our memories of that day, let us pray for this country, that it may continue to heal; for the leaders, that they may continue to increase our security so that it never happens,again; for the jihadists, that they may find the one true God and repent of their ways, asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus as their savior; for the people of this country that they never forget the reason for the military in Afghanistan; and that this day be remembered for the tragedy of it and not be replaced by some Earth Day. 

Allow the tears to flow and your hearts to break each time you think of the horrible loss we suffered that day at the hands of an enemy that came so unexpectedly; the people that were killed as the towers came crashing down; the Firefighters killed trying to save as many as they could; the people and crew of United Flight 93 that so heroically brought the plane down in Pennsylvania so that others could live; the dead and wounded at the Pentagon; all of the surviving friends and families and all of us that were so affected by it all.

Let the memory stay alive so that this country can continue to be safe from the tyranny of any future terrorist attacks.  Let it stay alive so that we can be ever vigilant against our enemies whether they are visible or not.

Pray to God for His protection.  Repent to Him as a nation and ask for His forgiveness so that our land may be healed and we might be once again, in His good graces.

May God bless and give comfort to those today that are still suffering from the loss not only of friends and families, but of our innocence on that day.

..................Sharon

April 10, 2009-Day 2 of the Wildfires

A couple of years ago, as the fire ate its way through the brush and trees and raced along the dead, drought-plagued grass, gaining momentum with every breath of wind, I was riveted in place watching it. Our property was next in line and there was nothing slowing it down…except the firefighters.

They were stationed at different locations doing their assigned, but dangerous jobs…some fighting the fire directly, busting brush with their trucks and hosing down advancing flames. Some were setting wet lines to start a backfire to stop the spread of the encroaching inferno. Dozers and their operators, provided by the private sector, were cutting fire lines to try to stop the monster’s advancement. Tank trucks called in from the oil field, were standing by to refill the constantly emptying tanks of the brush trucks and engines. Still others were in four wheelers and pick ups racing back and forth trying to keep track of the direction the fire was taking.

All the while, the fire chiefs were keeping track of who and what was dispatched where, what the location was of the fire, the wind direction, the humidity level, and maintaining contact with the State Forest Service, trying to find out when the helicopter would be here as well as constantly communicating with the County Dispatch.

This all comes back to me as I listen to the scanner trying to keep up with the latest round of disastrous fires in our area. Hearing them coordinate plans to set up command centers for the Roberts Ranch Road Fire near Squaw Mountain and the Cement Mountain Fire at Bryson and finding out that the Two Bush fire was still burning near Gibtown… was keeping me riveted in place, again. Another one called in near Newport. Manpower was short. Trucks, dozers, tank trucks all being used in one of the four corners of the county. No outside sources are available to help in addition to our volunteers or even to allow them to get some rest.

Winds were gusting up to 50 MPH; drought conditions prevalent in all of the county and surrounding counties. Fire fuel everywhere and nothing to stop it. Time after time, back fires were set only to hear a little later that the fire had jumped the road, pulling back to the next road or to leave that building burning because we can't stop it, or “we just lost it.”

Dispatch was busy getting officers and Texas DOT personnel to highways 148, 59, and 1191 to close them and turn traffic around because of fire and smoke. She was on the phone calling other fire departments begging for help, toning out our fire departments again and again trying to pull in fresh manpower. She was getting weather reports and keeping up with who checked in and out along with her other duties. She was running interference with those trying to fight the fire, but could not communicate with each other as well as giving messages from other departments or the State Forestry Service to one of the command centers.

Three ambulances were stationed in strategic locations to be available “just in case.”

Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies were trying to evacuate homes in the path of the oncoming blaze. Some didn't want to leave. Buildings were burned, property destroyed.

Then the governor said that fire departments could cross their boundaries to help other counties. Last night Susan said that she saw three groups of these trucks coming in to town. I did not realize what an awesome sight this was until today, Friday, when I saw a bunch more come in. They were from all over the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. It was awesome. I cried. It was just a moving sight, knowing how tired our guys are and how hard they are trying to get these fires under control with so little help. There are volunteer departments sending equipment and personnel, also.

I talked to one firefighter from Wylie. He was parking at the Dairy Queen and I pulled up beside him to let him know that they were feeding the firefighters at the Fair Barn. I told him that Jack County thanked him and his crew. He said that the Dairy Queen was feeding firefighters, too. He also said that he and his crew had been on the line for 32 hours and were beat. They evidently came in from another fire to here. Wow. We must never take our guys for granted!

At least two men, my husband and a good friend of ours were out of the state in their trucks when they learned about the fires. Both turned around as soon as they could and headed back to Jack County. Volunteer fire fighters, each one parked their trucks and went immediately to help in any way they could. The fire chief told me later that he was out of manpower and in dire need of a water truck to go to one of the fires, but he had no driver. The men were all out on the line or getting much needed sleep on a cot in the Community Center. The truck was sitting there full of water and only someone with a CDL could drive it. The Chief had all but given up hope on fresh manpower when he looked up and saw my husband walking in and knew his problem was solved. He had found his driver.
The whole county comes together in times like these. Businesses are donating bottled water and food. People have turned out to donate sandwiches at midnight, then granola bars, Chapstick, and fruit cups as soon as the call went out. Churches are waiting on standby to help stranded victims as they become known. The Clothes Closet is on call. Firemen's wives and families are staffing the donation center at the Fire Hall and delivering stuff to the line. The City has opened up and is staffing Twin Lakes Community Center to take care of tired firefighters and evacuated people. The Prison is cooking food and laundering towels for the firefighters.


This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have not even gotten through this disaster and already the wonderful people of Jack County are stepping up as always. The governor has asked FEMA to declare our county a disaster area. The Red Cross is on it's way here to help. At least one family has been displaced...probably more. They just said (I think in the Roberts Ranch Road fire in N. Jack County) that approximately 16,000 acres had been lost; it had 35-40% containment; and 15-18 homes had been destroyed.

Now, smoke is getting thick over our property, again and makes the fire seem closer. My heart is a little racy because I don’t want to go through that again. But….we all know that God will not give us more than we can handle, so it will be okay and I don't think that the fire it moving north anyway.

Just know that the brave men and women who volunteered for this danger-prone job of fighting fire, as well as the ones who have left their home counties to help us, paid or not, have an eternal place of honor in my heart. Some don’t get paid in dollars for this bone-tiring act of heroism, but surely the reward not only is in heaven awaiting them, but also within their own souls pushing them on and on until exhaustion finally overtakes them.

4/21/2009-Published in Jacksboro Gazette-News as Guest Editorial
2009-Edited by and Published in Firewise News-sent in by Jack County Fire Chief Jim Richardson